Garment support and stretcher



M. *LETH.

GARMENT SUPPORT. AND STRETCH ER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I2, 1920.

1,343,397. Patented June 15, 1920.

I 14- I5 i a I B.

anvemtoz MARIUs LETH, or OMA A, NEBRASKA.

GARMENT SUPPORT AND STRETCH ER.

To all whomct may concern:

Be it known that LMARIUS LETH, a citizen of the United States, residingat Omaha, 1n the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment Supports Stretchers, of which the following is a specification. I

The present invention relates to garment supports and stretchers, and has'more particular reference to an improvement in a device for suspending and holding in a creased and flattened condition the legs of trousers. The object of the present invention is to provide a relatively light, strong, durable and quickly applied stretcher for appllcation to trousers to hold the same in a stretched flat condition for maintaining the crease therein and to afford means for suspending the garment from a hook or the like conveniently placed in a closet or in a wall.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stretcher which is made substantially in one piece, which is resilient to an extent sufficient forwedging or binding in the gar ment, and which is in the form of a wedge for binding the device within the garment by slipping the reduced end therein and drawing the device through the garment to the desired extent. I

The above, and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described in, and in part be understood from, the following detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a garment stretcher constructed according to the present invention and as applied to a trouser leg, the latter being shown in section. r V

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of one end of the device, shown on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, the garment stretcher and support comprises a pair of side bars 10 and 11 preferably constructed of relatively thin sheet metal and being relatively straight throughout the major portions of their lengths and reinforced against bending and buckling by ribs 12 which are pressed outwardly and longitudinally from the bars 10 and 11. v

At each end of the device the bars 10 and Specification of Letters Patent. P t nt J e Application filed January 12, 1920. Serial No. 350,898.

11 are connected togetherby spring means.

One end of the device, which may be termed theinner end, is providedwith a coil spring 18 and the other or outer end of the device is provided with a second coil spring 14. These springs 13 and 14 are preferably of sprlng steel and composedeach of one helix,

' and have the helices terminating in crossed diverging arms 15 which are flattened and are brazed, welded or otherwise suitably sesubstantially, continuations thereof. H

It will thus be seen that the side bars 10 and 11 are yieldinglyconnected together at opposlte ends and'that' the side bars are urged apart by the crossed arms. 15 of the sprlngs to force the remote edges of the side bars 10 and 11 into the creases of the garment I for holding such creases across the edges of the side bars and drawing taut the portions of the garment at opposite sides of the Another feature of this invention is in pro vlding a relatlvely wider or larger spring devlce 13 at the inner end of the stretcher than the spring device 14 at the outer endv thereof This is accomplished, preferably by making thea'rms 15 of the spring 13 longer than the corresponding arms of the spring 14:.

- The result is that the stretcheris of wedge shape, tapering toward its outer end so that said end may be inserted in the garment and drawn through the same until the side bars 10 and 11 are compressed to the desired tension for stretchingand holding the garment. It will further be noted that the springs 1.3 and 1 extend longitudinally outward from the ends of the stretcher to serve not only as finger holds for'facilitating positioning and removal of the device, but also to serve as loops or'rmgs for engagement over hooks upon which the stretcher may be suspended.

7 From Fig. 2, particularly, it will be noted that the arms 15'of the springs are not only fiat where they merge into the ends of the side barslO and 11, but that they also curve edgewise inwardly toward each other and may be sufficiently spaced apart at their crossed portions to admit free flexing or bending of the springs 13 and 14 during compression and expansion of the ends of the stretcher.

A stretcher is therefore provided which is made substantially in one piece, which presents relatively sharp or thin edges to the cured to the side bars lO and l1; t0, form,

creases of the garment, which is relatively drawing oftlie stretcher into and out of the garment acontraction of the side bars 10 and 11 WhlCllfitCllltitteS the movement of the stretcher into and out of position. As the stretcher requires no adjustment or interfitting of parts, it may be quickly. inserted at its reduced end into a garment and is preferably pulled. into the contracted end of the garmentfordrawing the latter taut and obtaining the desired tension of the stretcher on the garment.

It is of course understood that various modificationsand changes may be made in the detailsof construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this'invention without departing from the 7 piritthereof, and limited only by the scope provide a coil spring serving to'force the arms'yieldingly apart, curved arms on the lower wider ends of the bars crossing each other and looped downwardlyyto provide a coilspring for resiliently spreading :thebars at their lower ends, said loops adapted" to form finger holds at the upper and lower ends of the stretcher. u In testimony whereof, I have ,afiixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

MARIUS .LETH.

- Witnesses:

ARTHUR H. STURGES, HIRAM A. STURGES. 

